EgypAir said there were 81 passengers on board the hijacked plane

NICOSIA, March 29. /TASS/. The hijacker of an EgyptAir plane that landed at Larnaca airport earlier today has allowed around 50 passengers to leave the aircraft, Greece’s ERT 1 TV channel reported on Tuesday.

"The hijacker released around 50 women and children who disembarked the plane and were taken to a safe place," ERT 1 said.

According to Al-Arabia TV channel, the hijacker let Egyptians, women and children out of the plane.

EgypAir said there were 81 passengers on board the hijacked plane.

The Al Bawaba news portal reported that a terrorist wearing a suicide belt has hijacked the plane. The hijacker threatened the pilot and forced him to divert the plane to Larnaca, Cyprus.

The plane landed at the Larnaca airport at 8.50 a.m. Moscow time (0550GMT). Between 62 and 81 people are onboard the aircraft, according to various reports.

Russia’s embassy in Cyprus said talks are underway with the hijacker.

"According to the embassy’s information, talks are now held with the hijacker so that he agrees to free women and children," the embassy said, adding that no Russians are onboard the plane.